Well seasoned hotel in FWB is getting an upgrade

The Quality Inn Bayside in Fort Walton Beach is undergoing a $1.5 million renovation.

Special to the Daily News

By DUSTY RICKETTS / Daily News

Published: Monday, April 7, 2014 at 05:42 PM.

FORT WALTON BEACH — One of the oldest hotels in the city is currently undergoing a massive $1.5 million renovation.

ROYA International Hotel Investments, based mostly in Europe and the Middle East, purchased the Quality Inn Bayside hotel in October 2012.

“The hotel was very tired and it was falling apart because the old owners didn’t invest enough in the property,” said Metin Kebir, head of the company’s North American operations. “We decided to put more investment into the project. That is why we now remodeling the hotel entirely.

“We want to have a new look,” Kebir added. “This is one of the oldest hotels in Fort Walton Beach. At one time, maybe they did a great job and we want to do that again.”

Renovations on the 100-room hotel, located at 322 Miracle Strip Parkway, started in January with most of the work expected to be completed at the end of this month.

All 100 rooms and the hallways are receiving new flooring in the renovation. The rooms are also receiving new televisions, wi-fi and heating and air conditioning units.

The hotel’s middle building, which sits on Santa Rosa Sound, will be a new premium product for the hotel when it’s completed later this month.

Those rooms will feature a more European-style design with different furniture and features.

“By the end of the month, we should be ready for the season,” Kebir said.

RONAY Group, the parent company of ROYA International Hotel Investments, also purchased the old Howard Johnson hotel building next door to the Quality Inn and is in the process of transforming those 36 hotel rooms into 18 apartments.

The RONAY Bayside Residences apartment complex is expected to be completed this week, Kebir said, and half of the units have already been reserved.

The final phase of the renovation is the addition of a new restaurant with outdoor seating. Plans for the restaurant are still being developed, but it is expected to be open in late May.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.

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FORT WALTON BEACH — One of the oldest hotels in the city is currently undergoing a massive $1.5 million renovation.

ROYA International Hotel Investments, based mostly in Europe and the Middle East, purchased the Quality Inn Bayside hotel in October 2012.

“The hotel was very tired and it was falling apart because the old owners didn’t invest enough in the property,” said Metin Kebir, head of the company’s North American operations. “We decided to put more investment into the project. That is why we now remodeling the hotel entirely.

“We want to have a new look,” Kebir added. “This is one of the oldest hotels in Fort Walton Beach. At one time, maybe they did a great job and we want to do that again.”

Renovations on the 100-room hotel, located at 322 Miracle Strip Parkway, started in January with most of the work expected to be completed at the end of this month.

All 100 rooms and the hallways are receiving new flooring in the renovation. The rooms are also receiving new televisions, wi-fi and heating and air conditioning units.

The hotel’s middle building, which sits on Santa Rosa Sound, will be a new premium product for the hotel when it’s completed later this month.

Those rooms will feature a more European-style design with different furniture and features.

“By the end of the month, we should be ready for the season,” Kebir said.

RONAY Group, the parent company of ROYA International Hotel Investments, also purchased the old Howard Johnson hotel building next door to the Quality Inn and is in the process of transforming those 36 hotel rooms into 18 apartments.

The RONAY Bayside Residences apartment complex is expected to be completed this week, Kebir said, and half of the units have already been reserved.

The final phase of the renovation is the addition of a new restaurant with outdoor seating. Plans for the restaurant are still being developed, but it is expected to be open in late May.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.